This April I'm running the London Marathon for Contact the Elderly, the only national charity dedicated solely to tackling loneliness and social isolation among older people.

I've included a brief note below explaining the type of work Contact the Elderly do. Please take a moment to read, and if you are able to make a donation in support of my cause, Contact the Elderly and I would be very grateful.

Contact the Elderly are supported by a network of volunteers and organise monthly afternoon tea parties for small gatherings of older people who live alone. This service offers a vital, regular friendship link to members. 

The charity meeting sessions operate at weekends, when most community services for older people are not available. Moreover, Sunday has been highlighted by attendees as being a particularly lonely day of the week.

Increasingly, research highlights the link between loneliness and ill-health in later life, including depression, certain heart conditions and even Alzheimer’s disease.

The following comment is taken from a Clinical Psychologist familiar with Contact the Elderly's programmes;

“Knowing I can refer some clients on to a group, once we’ve completed a piece of work and their mood and self esteem have improved, can be a real protective factor in their ongoing psychological well-being and quality of life. These friendship groups are particularly relevant as social isolation can be such a risk factor for depression. Contact the Elderly has been a real lifeline for some people I have worked with.”